Any now what really inspired my colorful theme this week, these paint splatter cookies from Jacks & Kate. They just make me want to pull out a blank canvas and start painting like Jackson Pollock. (Sorry, flash back to my art history classes.) Anyways, these cookies are great to make ahead of time for your guests to enjoy or you could leave the canvas blank and let your guests create their own cookie masterpiece. Any age group will enjoy decorating their own cookie canvas. Enjoy!

Directions1. Cream together softened butter and confectioner’s sugar. 2. Crack the egg into a separate bowl, and add the flavoring. Add that to the butter sugar mixture and mix until the egg is thoroughly incorporated. 3. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt, then add little by little to the mixture. The dough is ready when it has a little give, but does not stick to your fingers.4. Roll out the dough on parchment to about 1/4 an inch thick, using flour for dusting as necessary.5. Cut your cookies out and bake at 400 degrees for 7-8 minutes. This version makes 2-2 1/2 dozen.

Now you are ready for the icing. Make a batch of royal icing and pipe the cookie canvas outline onto your cookie. Next fill in the cookie outline with icing by adding a little bit of water to your batch of royal icing allowing it to turn more into a liquid form allowing you to create a nice smooth surface. Once that hardens you are ready to decorate. Taking about ½ cup of royal icing, divide into bowls, add a little water to thin down to a watery consistency and add your food coloring. You can paint your canvases with toothpicks, forks, toothbrushes, or anything else you find. Once you have finished painting your cookies let dry for 4-5 hours and enjoy!How would you decorate your cookie canvas?

In keeping with the colorful events theme I shared with you on Tuesday I have a great paint party idea to share with you today. Originally I drew inspiration for a paint party theme from this Art Party by Kate P. but then I read about this amazing painting party that was hosted in promotion of the new Stoli campaign. I still love the classic idea of having all these bright Crayola colored tablecloths, crafts, and food but felt that this Paint Mixer was a more grown up version of the paint party.To start the evening at this paint mixer everything was white. All the guests were asked to wear white, the room was white, even the food was white. This created the perfect blank canvas for an evening of creativity. A table of paint brushes, pallets and paints were provided for all the guests to decorate the framed canvases on the walls as well as each other (protective lab coats and goggles were supplied for those that wanted them). As the evening progressed color was gradually introduced into the paint mixer by the guest’s newly designed pieces of artwork, a transition to colorful foods and colorful event lighting. Each guest could also create their own masterpiece to take home using paint and a spin art machine. Check out some of the pictures from this adult styled paint party.

Here are some guests who are all decked out in white and ready to start painting!

Of course every painter needs their painting supplies.

These guests couldn't wait to add their creative mark to the venue's white canvas. Colorful lights were introduced on the walls later in the evening to add even more colors.

Every party has to have a favor for their guests and these DIY spin art masterpieces were the perfect idea!

Now I know that creating an entire white room for a party may be hard, but you can still take inspiration from an upscale evening like this and let your creativity be your guide. Maybe you can host a similar event outdoors with blank canvases hung on easels and have everyone come in a white t-shirt that they would not mind having painted. What other paint inspired party ideas do you have? xoxo Megan You might also like…

As a guests to a wedding you may not be doing as much prepping and planning as the bride and groom but there are still event logistics to be planned. One of the items on your check list is the wedding gift. Yes you could go the traditional rout and purchase something off of their registry but I usually like to get a little creative with my gift and try to think of something that the newlyweds can’t exactly register for but would fully appreciate. Here are some ideas that you could use when you attend your next wedding.

Tailgate Basket. For the couple who love to go to football games a tailgate basket is a great gift. You can fill it with plates, napkins, utensils and cups in the school’s colors, some of their favorite snacks and maybe include tickets to one of the upcoming fall games. My parents received a great basket when they were married 31 years ago and still use it to tote tailgate goodies back and forth on gamedays.

A Night Out on the Town. If a couple is moving to a new city or state after they are married a night out on the town gift will really help them settle into their new location and let them explore the town together. You can get gift certificates to local restaurants, shows, and events allowing them to have fun date nights out.

Breakfast Basket. Not many brides and grooms think about anything they may need during their time between the wedding and when they leave on their honeymoon. A great gift that you could arrange for them in a breakfast basket for the newlyweds to enjoy the morning after the wedding. The two of them will be so exhausted after their whirlwind of a wedding that it will be the perfect way to relax the next morning before they jet off on their honeymoon.

Christmas Cards. For the creative guest who loves to plan ahead work with the photographer or take your own picture of the bride and groom on their wedding day. After the wedding choose one of your favorite shots, design and then print a set of Christmas cards that the couple can send out together when they celebrate their first holiday season together.What other creative gift ideas have you given or received? xoxo Megan You might also like…

I am a huge fan of color and love all the bright vibrant colors that accompany the summer season. Everything from summer fashion, flowers, foods and events are filled with so many colors which is what makes some of these colorful evens so much fun to take part in. So as a great way to infuse your Tuesday with some color I have put together a list of 10 colorful events that you can be a part of or even host this summer.

1. The Color Run.The Color Run 5K race is still one of the quickest selling events in America! Start the race with your friends all in pristine white and end in one colored mess.

2. Paint and Sip Party. I don’t think I need to explain much with this one. You get to paint a fun picture while enjoying your favorite glass (or bottle of wine) with friends.

3. Live Painting Entertainment.Lilly Pulitzer hosts many events throughout the year and as a part of the entertainment at their fundraisers and events they have live painting. What a great way to get a little colorful and raise money for a great cause!

4. Paintball Party. There is no better way to bring out everyone’s competitive side than with a little paintball color fight. 5. Colorful Kitchen Cooking. Grab a group and host a cooking class with all the colorful fruits and veggies that are so readily available during the summer. See who can create the most colorful dish!

6. Tie Dye Party. What better way to celebrate the 70’s than with a little psychedelic fun and create your own tie-dye creation.7. Furniture Painting Party. Go on a run to a thrift shop or two to collect a variety of new chairs and then invite your friends over for a painting party to create your own mis-matched Friends themed kitchen table setting.

8. Holi: The India Color Festival. This festival of color was the inspiration behind many of the color runs that are offered in America today.9. The Great Bull Run. You don’t have to fly to Spain to participate in this event anymore! The run and tomato royale event is coming to a city near you! Get ready for lots of colors as well as having a messy time.

10. Neon Splash Dash. The newest color run races are now hosted a night with glow sticks and paint with black lights. Get ready to be one colorful mess!What other colorful events do you know and like to participate in? xoxo Megan You might also like…

It is always a great week when you get to spend time with friends and family. And this past week I got to do both! I went to a movie preview for The Heat, enjoyed a few nights out with Friends in both Charlottesville and Richmond, enjoyed some pool/catch-up time with one of my besties and ended the week with a graduation celebration party. And then to top off the weekend I (finally?) upgraded to a new phone and got an iPhone. Now I just have to figure out how to use everything. Anyone have any help on good apps to get and any tips on how to use everything? Check out some pictures that I took from this past week’s events. While waiting in line for the movie preview my friend and I decided to enroll and become students at Monster’s University. Can’t wait for classes to start!

Got to enjoy an amazing preview for The Heat. This is a must see for everyone!! I also saw This Is The End with some guy friends and yes it was funny but also a little strange in my book.

I celebrated the first day of summer by wearing some Lilly (it was also National Wear Your Lilly day).

Made a quick stop at the phone store to pick up my new phone.

I enjoyed lots of amazing food at the grad party. This was just the first round. No one left hungry from this party!

And of course a picture of the grad in the pool. Congrats you two!!

Over all this was one amazing weekend but I am more than looking forward to a relaxing evening in after a nice trip to the gym. This is the perfect evening to just stay in a watch some Bachelorette (don’t judge – it’s my TV guilty pleasure lol).

What did you do to celebrate the start of summer this past weekend? xoxo Megan You might also like…

During the summer I think I could accurately say that I live off of fresh fruits and cannot wait to start enjoying some delicious watermelon! However, when it comes to summertime events sometimes fruit is nowhere to be found. Not to worry anymore! I have the perfect dish that you can prepare for your own party or one you may be attending this summer. No matter what type of party you may be hosting or attending the fruit kabob is the perfect dish to prepare. The dish is easy to serve (it is on a kabob after all) so there does not have to be any worry about plates, cups, forks, etc. with this dish. You can make them with whatever fresh fruit your local grocery store maybe carrying at the time and serve your kabobs in a variety of ways. Here are some great ways that you can serve up this delicious Squared Fruit with Berry Dip from Canadian Living

I can’t wait to give some of these fruit kabobs a try! What other summertime fruit recipes do you enjoy making? Have a wonderful weekend and Happy First Day of Summer to you all!! xoxo Megan You might also like…

I cannot wait for all the summertime parties and events to get started! No matter if it is a pool party or a night under the stars in your own backyard you can’t go wrong with these party essentials. As always the amazing Martha Stewart knows what to do when it comes to party crafting. I have four DIY crafting ideas that will prepare you for any summertime get together. So grab your crafting essentials and get ready to craft your way to a summer of fun!

Preppy Napkin RingsMaterials:Stitched grosgrainImported Chromspun grosgrainNickel D rings, 1 inch wideFabric glueInstructions:Step 1: Cut 9-inch lengths of grosgrain ribbon or twill tape. Notch 1 end, or cut it at an angle. Loop the other end through 2 D rings, wrapping ribbon around the rings' straight edges, and glue it to itself with fabric glue.Step 2: Center a rolled napkin on the ribbon; thread the ribbon's free end through the rings as you would a belt, and pull it snug.

Drink UmbrellasMaterials:PaperPinking shears or scallop scissorsGlue stick or double-sided tapeCraft glueWooden skewerScissors Instructions:Step 1: Cut paper with pinking shears or scallop scissors for a decorative edge.Step 2: From each circle, remove a pie-slice shape measuring about 1/8 of the circumference. Fashion into a cone, slightly overlapping straight ends; use a glue stick or double-sided tape to secure.Step 3: Dab white craft glue inside nose of cone, and pierce tip with a wooden skewer (snip skewer for a custom fit); allow to dry.

Decorative Tray Materials: 1 yard decorative fabric Aluminum rimmed baking sheet Spray adhesive Scissors Fabric glue Synthetic felt 1/4-inch-thick acrylic sheet cut to fit inside of tray Instructions: Step 1: Cut fabric large enough to cover the front and wrap around the back of the baking tray. Cover the front of the tray with spray adhesive. Step 2: Place fabric on tray so pattern is aligned, leaving enough room to wrap fabric around all sides to the back. Smooth fabric onto tray, pressing out any bubbles. Step 3: Pull any extra material into corner and push around the edge. Turn tray over. Cover the back of the tray with spray adhesive. Step 4: Press the fabric over two edges of the tray first, then fold in on each remaining side, as if wrapping a gift. Trim any excess fabric with scissors. Use fabric glue to secure, if needed. Step 5: Cut a piece of felt to fit the back of the tray and conceal fabric edges. Smooth felt on the back the tray. Step 6: Place acrylic sheet in center of tray.

Now you are ready for any celebration that may come your way this summer!Do you have any other great DIY ideas that would be great for a summer party? Share your ideas below! xoxo Megan You might also like…

When it comes to your wedding day just be prepared that not everything will be exactly as you may have planned. Yes, you still will have an amazing time and everyone will have a blast celebrating your new marriage, but it doesn’t hurt to be prepared for those last minute emergencies that will come up. To help you prepare to take on anything that may get in the way on your wedding day here are some must have items to include in your "HIS" and "HERS" wedding day survival kits.

Advil/Tylenol

Baby Powder

Band-Aids

Bobby Pins

Clear Nail Polish

Comb

Compact Mirror

Deodorant

Disposable Toothbrush

Facial Blotters

Fashion Tape

Floss

Hair Spray

Hand Sanitizer

Light Snack

Lotion

Mints

Nail Clippers

Pens

Q-Tips

Safety Pins

Scarf

Scissors

Sewing Kit

Sticky Notes

Straws

Tape

Tissues

Tweezers

Water Bottle

Band-Aids

Brush

Comb

Corsage Pins

Dark Socks

Deodorant

Disposable Toothbrush

Energy Bar

Eye Drops

Floss

Lint Brush

Mints

Phone Charger

Safety Pins

Shoe Polish

Tide Stick

Tums/Tylenol/Advil

Water Bottle

The best place to get everything? Where you can find all those travel sized items in Target (or other similar store). You can also alter your wedding day kit based on the location and time of year you are getting married.What else would you recommend to include in a wedding day survival kit? xoxo Megan You might also like…

Summer is the perfect time to grab your friends and head outdoors for some summertime fun. Today I have put together a list of ten great summer party ideas and themes. Some are pretty standard, 4th of July and Labor Day, while others have you getting a little more creative. Now all you need to do is send out those invites! Don’t forget mine!

1. First Day of Summer. On Friday, June 21st spend as much time as you can outdoors as this is not only the first day of summer but also is the longest day of the year (daylight wise). This is the perfect day to host an evening under the sun, I mean stars.2. Outdoor Concert. Summer is when artists flock to outdoor amphitheaters and stadiums for the concert season. These venues usually provide for the perfect tailgating experiences as well. Plan on getting there early to snag a prime-time tailgating parking spot.

3. Yard Games. For those that enjoy a fun yard game host an afternoon of friendly competition. Games like croquet, cornhole, and bocce ball are great yard games that everyone can enjoy even while enjoying a cold summer cocktail.4. Set Sail. A nautical theme is always in style and is loved by every preppy out there. You can host a nautical themed event down by the bay, at the river or in your own backyard. You don’t have to own a boat for this nautical party.

5. An Outdoor Picnic. There is no need to spend all your summer days indoors. Pack a bag filled with picnic supplies and head towards you nearest park for a fun afternoon hike with a picture perfect picnic at the top. 6. Fourth of July. A day off of work that ends with a fireworks show?!? Yes please! It is time to pull out all your red, white and blue party supplies and recipes for this summertime holiday celebration.7. Pool Party. When the days start to get a bit too hot a pool party is the best way to cool down. Grab a cooler filled with your favorite summertime drinks, your swim suite and some floaties for the perfect pool party.

8. Backyard Movie Night. Once the sun goes down there are tons of fun summer nighttime activities to enjoy. Create your own version of a drive in movie night right in your own back yard by stringing up a large sheet and using a projector to show the evening’s selection. Don’t forget the popcorn!9. Beach Party. For a water-loving girl like me you cannot keep me away from the beach during the summer. For those that live close enough plan a day trip to the shore for everyone to soak up some rays and have a little fun.10. Labor Day. I consider this weekend the last weekend of summer and always spend it down by the river or at the beach soaking up the last rays of summer. This is also the perfect weekend to plan one last get-a-way before everyone gets back to their normal wok routine. Where will you be headed?What is your favorite summertime event? xoxo Megan You might also like…

Last we my family had a lot to celebrate. My brother had his baccalaureate program that he played in, then graduation and also Father’s Day. From the ceremonies to the fun family meals it was one hectic week but we all had a blast celebrating. Yesterday I used up the last of my energy just reading by the pool and trying to regain some energy. Check out some pictures from this past week of celebrations below.

At the Baccalaureate program my brother and his friend played a piece together called Polonaise de Concert. They were ten times better than my video recording skills. (My brother is the one of the piano.)

And then on Wednesday we all got together for a pre-graduation dinner before we headed downtown for the ceremony. We are one crazy family sometimes!

After dinner it was time for graduation!

And here is everyone post-graduation for some family pictures. Even though this was at 9 o’clock at night it had to be one of the hottest evenings of the summer so far. Of course we all just look amazing so it didn’t really matter! Lol

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